Dr Ernest Kan is Deputy Managing Partner (Markets) of Deloitte Singapore, an international firm of certified public accountants and one of the world’s leading accounting and auditing, management consulting and tax services firms. Leader of Deloitte Southeast Asia Global IFRS & Offerings Services, Board Member of the Global Chinese Services Group and Southeast Asia Regional Head, he is a Chartered Accountant (FCA) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, a Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA) of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants UK, a CPA of CPA Australia and he holds a PhD in Business Administration, a Master of Philosophy degree and a Bachelor of Art degree in Accountancy Studies. Currently, he is a practising member of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (“ISCA”). He has over 30 years of professional experience.

As Head of the Global IFRS & Offerings Services, Dr Kan has been involved in the financial audit, Initial Public Offerings and consultancy of national and multi-national companies in diverse sectors such as pulp & paper, agriculture & food, finance, consumer/retail, health care, manufacturing, media & communication, real estate/construction, technology and telecommunications, printing & publishing, computer software, leasing, electronics, travel & leisure. He has conducted several acquisitions and due diligence reviews of companies in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Taiwan on behalf of Singapore companies. Dr Kan is also the Financial Advisor to several companies with operations in the Asia Pacific region including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Indonesia regarding reorganisation and restructuring and public listing on the Singapore Exchange.

As a Deputy Managing Partner (Markets) in his other role, Dr Kan has responsibility over the operation of the firm, particularly in the aspect of clients’ management and market development.

Dr Kan was a member of the Committee to Develop the Accountancy Sector (“CDAS”). This committee was set up in 2008 by The Ministry of Finance (“MOF”) to undertake a comprehensive review of the accountancy services sector, with a view to positioning Singapore as the leading international centre in Asia for the provision of professional accountancy services as well as the development of top-notch accountancy professionals. With this mission, the Singapore Accountancy Commission (“SAC”) was formed in April 2013 and Dr Kan served until March 2015 as a Board Member of SAC under the ambit of the MOF.

On the professional front, Dr Kan is the Immediate Past President of the national accounting body, ISCA and the Immediate Past Chairman of the Singapore Institute of Accredited Tax Professional, the national tax body.

On the international front, Dr Kan was a Board member of the International Federation of Accountants (“IFAC”) during the period 2003-2005, and a former Council member of the ASEAN Federation of Accountants (“AFA”).

He is active in the academia and serves as Chairman on the Advisory Board, School of Accountancy of the Singapore Management University, a Past Board Member (2007 to 2016) of the ITE Board of Governors which comes under the Ministry of Education and Chairman of its Audit Committee. Further, his commitment and contributions as a part-time lecturer at the Singapore Accountancy Academy of ICPAS (1990 – 2004) for the ICPAS/ACCA joint scheme examinations have earned him two Service Awards (Silver) from ICPAS in 1997 and again in 2002. Dr Kan spoke at the 16th World Congress of Accountants 2002, known as the Olympics of the accounting world as it is held once every four years and also the 18th World Congress of Accountants 2010 which was held in Malaysia. He was also involved in the organising committee of 12th AFA (Asean Federation of Accountants) Conference 2001, held once every two years. He was a Chairman on its Technical Sub-Committee and he chaired one of the plenary sessions. He was also invited guest speaker at the subsequent 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th AFA Regional Conference held respectively in Bangkok (2003), Hanoi (2005), Jakarta (2007) and Brunei (2009). He spoke at the IFAC Forum in Berlin and Seoul in November 2011 and 2013, respectively. He was also a speaker at the United Nation Conference in Geneva in November 2013. He was one of the External Examiners for the School of Accountancy in a local Institution, and an Assessor/Examiner for one of the UK Accountancy Professional Bodies. His passion for lecturing has resulted in producing his own books namely (1)Audit Framework (ACCA Paper 6) Study Manual and the Revision Kit in 1996; (2)Audit and Internal Review Singapore text in 2001; (3)Audit and Assurance in 2007, the 2nd Edition in 2010, and the 3rd Edition in 2013 published by CCH. Dr Kan is the Editor for the Financial Statements (Technician Unit 14) tutorial text for the Association of Accounting Technician Examination.

Apart from being active in the academia and professional front, Dr Kan has been active in serving on the Statutory Boards. He was a Board Member of the Agri-food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) of Singapore for three terms (April 2000 to March 2006). A Board Member of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) from April 2004 to March 2010 and a Board Member of the JTC Corp from April 2007 to Dec 2011. He is a member of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) Resource Panel (Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Trade & Industry) and a member of the Appeal Advisory Panels set up by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

On other related appointments, Dr Kan chaired the CFO Judging Panel of the Singapore Corporate Awards organised by the Singapore Exchange and Business Times (now by Business Times, Singapore Institute of Directors and Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants). He is a Board member of the People’s Association since April 2014, and as Justice of the Peace since September 2015.

He is actively involved in grassroots organisations namely : Council Member and Chairman of the Finance Committee of North East Community Development Council; Counsellor and Chairman of the Finance Committee of Pasir Ris Punggol Town Council, Past Chairman of Punggol North Citizens Consultative Committee (2008 – 2012). He was conferred with the Public Service Medal: Pingat Bakti Masyarakat (PBM) by the President of the Republic of Singapore for his contribution to the country at the 2008 National Day. In 2011 and 2012, he received a Constituency Achievement Award for Pasir Ris Punggol GRC – Punggol North Division, then serving as Chairman of its Citizens Consultative Committee. Currently, he is the Chairman of Punggol West Citizens Consultative Committee and Patron of Punggol North Citizens Consultative Committee.